6 minute read
Cruise Ship Nursing
A UNIQUE CAREER PATH FOR ADVENTURE-SEEKING NURSES
By April Rowe, RN
ONE OF THE MANY PERKS of being a nurse is versatility. There are so many different areas that nurses can choose to specialize in. Even better is that nurses aren’t stuck doing the same job day after day for their entire careers. Nurses can change the setting they work in, the patient population they care for, and where they reside in the world.
If you are a nurse who loves to travel, see the world, and seek out new adventures, cruise ship nursing may be the perfect career for you. Not only do you get to experience living aboard a cruise ship, but you also get paid to travel, so why limit yourself to providing nursing care on dry land when you can take your skills to the high seas?
WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE A CRUISE SHIP NURSE
Zahra Rahim, an experienced cruise ship nurse from West Yorkshire, United Kingdom, started her nursing career in the emergency department. She began working as a new grad nurse in January 2020. Within a few months, nursing changed drastically worldwide, and Zahra was thrown smackdab in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it was difficult, she gained a lot of essential emergency medicine experience.
As the world started to open back up, a new nursing opportunity arose when someone reached out to Zahra regarding cruise ship nursing. Because she loves to travel, Zahra decided to take the leap and make a career change. Her background in accidents and emergencies (A&E nursing) made her a perfect candidate.
Zahra is now contracted as a nursing officer with a cruise line based out of the United Kingdom and works on a rotation of twelve weeks on and six weeks off. The small medical team consists of several doctors and nurses working in the clinic onboard the ship. Not only do they tend to the medical needs of thousands of guests, but they also care for the staff aboard.
The facility is set up similarly to a hospital setting and has everything the team needs to triage and treat patients. “If anything is to happen like a cardiac arrest or any limb-threatening injuries, we have all the facilities onboard to manage it until we can safely get them offboard,” said Zahra. As a cruise ship nurse, she must be prepared for a wide range of possible situations with a varying patient population.
Each cruise line will vary in how they manage the nursing contracts and schedules. Zahra’s work schedule generally involves two days in the clinic, a day on-call, a night on-call, and then a day of rest. On clinic days, she works from 8AM to 10AM and then from 4PM to 6PM. So the time in between can be spent exploring the ports or relaxing on the ship.
“On a cruise ship, the workload isn’t as intense as the emergency room, but you may see sick patients and need the knowledge to recognize when something is wrong. But, at least you can spend time with the patient and explain what’s happening. You don’t always get to do that in the high-pressure hospital setting," added Zahra.
Being a social person is an important aspect of this type of nursing. You will encounter many different guests and staff members throughout your day. Zahra explained some of the required skills to do this job. “A cruise ship nurse should be confident doing initial assessments and be able to triage, understand basic interpretations of ECGs (electrocardiograms), and know advanced life support.”
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A CRUISE SHIP NURSE?
Many cruise lines require nurses to have at least three years of clinical experience, preferably in emergency services or intensive care. While some days may be slow and considered easy, the staff must be prepared to jump into action for many different life-threatening situations.
Cruise ships have thousands of guests of all ages, so the medical staff should be comfortable caring for patients from babies to the elderly. Due to the requirements of experience, nursing skills, and the need to work autonomously, the salary of cruise ship nurses is comparable to hospital pay ranges.
“You have to work well under pressure and will be faced with challenges that you may not ever deal with at home. You may have to work outside of your comfort zone and need to know how to cope with stressful situations,” stated Zahra. Cruise ship nurses should expect the unexpected and maintain day-to-day flexibility.
I’m passionate about travel. I love taking nursing to different levels. I’m making myself a better practitioner by taking on new challenges.
THE BENEFITS OF BEING A CRUISE SHIP NURSE
So many nurses take their nursing skills on the road as travelers, so why not take those skills onboard a beautiful cruise ship? Imagine waking up in a new port every day and getting to experience different cultures, languages, and cuisine. It’s not all work for the cruise ship nurses. They also get to go on excursions and tours or attend the shows and entertainment onboard.
Some of the perks of being a cruise nurse are getting discounts on excursions, tours, and other cruises. Many companies will allow their nurses to bring a family member or friend onboard. Cruise nurses are considered officers, so they have deck privileges, allowing them to mingle with the guests and enjoy the amenities and restaurants onboard.
Cruise ships are a fun and relaxing environment, quite the contrast from most nursing settings. “Sometimes we forget we’re there to work. We get to see so many beautiful places, so it feels like a holiday, but we are ultimately there to make sure the guests are safe and having a good time,” noted Zahra. But during her time off, she definitely takes advantage of exploring the different ports and enjoys the activities on the ship.
When asked why she continues to be a cruise ship nurse, Zahra replied, “I’m passionate about travel. I love taking nursing to different levels. I’m making myself a better practitioner by taking on new challenges, and I’m broadening my horizons. It’s a nice way to have a change of scenery.”
This unique nursing career allows you to explore new countries while still being able to interact and provide care to patients. Being a cruise ship nurse offers an exciting opportunity to combine your passion for nursing with your love of travel. Getting a paycheck for working and living on a cruise ship sounds like unparalleled job satisfaction!
